Delayed Baggage (On Flights in Brazil or to Brazil)

Nobody likes waiting for their luggage after a long flight. But unfortunately, delayed baggage is a common occurrence at airports around the world. No matter what the cause of the delay may be, it’s important to know your rights as an airline passenger when it comes to delayed or lost luggage. In this article we will look at how you can protect yourself in these situations and what steps you can take if your bag does not arrive with you on time.

Read on to learn more about baggage delay. 

Why Your Baggage Can Be Delayed?

Luggage can be delayed for many reasons, ranging from simple misplacement by airline or airport staff to more complex issues such as bad weather.

Here are some of the reasons why baggage can get delayed:

• Mishandling by airline or airport staff
• Bad weather
• Lost baggage tag
• Mechanical issues of aircrafts 
• Connecting flights problems  
• Poor planning and scheduling
• Missed connecting flight

The most common reason, however, is the mishandling of luggage. When baggage is loaded onto an aircraft, it is handled by airline and ground staff who must ensure that the bags are properly tagged and loaded onto the correct aircraft. If any of these steps are not done correctly, this can lead to baggage being lost.

Luggage can get delayed due to bad weather, too. Bad weather impacts airport operations, leading to reduced capacity for baggage handling and longer wait times for baggage processing.

If you have a connecting flight with a short layover, there may not be enough time for your baggage to be transferred from one plane to another. In such cases, your luggage may be left behind or may be delayed.

What to Do if Your Luggage Is Delayed?

1. As soon as you realize that your luggage is missing or delayed, promptly report the issue to the baggage service office found at the luggage claim area (where all of the baggage carousels are).
2. Show the staff at the office your boarding pass with the checked baggage receipt attached to it. 
3. Provide a description of your luggage. It’s best to show a photo of your bag, as this will help to located your bag faster. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a photo of your luggage on your phone. If you don’t have a photo, try to find a photo of exact same bag on the Internet.
4. Provide your address. Once found, your bag will be sent to that address.
5. Once all the information is entered into the system, an office employee will provide you with a reference number for lost baggage tracking. You will need to use this reference number on a special website where you can track baggage progress. 
6. Many airlines will provide you with a small kit of essentials, such as toiletries, until your luggage arrives. Be sure to ask for this if it is not automatically offered. You might not get it, however, if you have arrived back at your home country.
7. If you need to purchase any essentials, keep your receipts. Some airlines will reimburse you for these expenses.
8. After the airline has found your luggage, they will then make sure it is delivered to your address.

Delayed and Lost Baggage Compensation in Brazil

Can you get compensation for delayed luggage? 

You might. If you find that your luggage has been misplaced, the airline must return it within 7 days for domestic flights and 21 days if travelling internationally. Should they fail to locate the lost baggage in this time period, then the airline is obligated to compensate you for the loss of your luggage within a week.

When it comes to baggage loss, airlines must provide passengers with a refund for expenses accrued away from home. The airline is responsible for outlining what form of reimbursement and daily limits are applicable in this case. Within seven days of the passenger’s presentation of a receipt, the airline should have processed their payment in full. This is often called ‘delayed baggage compensation’.

Tips to Avoid Your Bag Being Delayed

While you can’t completely prevent baggage delays, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and minimize the impact of a potential delay:

• Pack essentials in your carry-on bag: Make sure to pack any essential items such as medication, travel documents, and valuables in your carry-on bag so that they are easily accessible and not lost if your checked luggage is delayed.
• Use luggage tags: Attach luggage tags with your name, address, and contact information to both the inside and outside of your suitcase. This will make it easier for airlines to locate your luggage if it gets lost or delayed.
• Consider travel insurance: Many travel insurance policies offer coverage for baggage delay or loss. Consider purchasing a policy that includes this coverage to help protect yourself financially in case of a delay.
• Arrive early at the airport: Arriving early at the airport gives you more time to check in your bags and allows for any potential issues or delays to be addressed before your flight departs.
• Fly direct or plan a longer layover: Your chances of losing your baggage are significantly lower if you fly direct or have a long layover.
• Reduce Confusion: Remove all previous baggage tags before checking luggage to avoid confusion. Doing this will make sure that your bags are sent to the correct destination with no uncertainty.

Overall, it’s important to remain patient and understanding when dealing with delayed baggage. While it can be frustrating, most airlines will do their best to locate and deliver your luggage as soon as possible.

Featured photo by Andrew Neel from Pexels